[WoD] Aperta Terra (Vampire: Dark Ages)

[Starship Tical]

Game Name Aperta Terra (Vampire: Dark Ages)

Game System World of Darkness

Theme Hungry neonates looking to get their own slice of the world

Flavour Diplomacy, Mystery, Politics, Intrigue, Exploration, Social interactions

Plot Summary The Genesis This game was initially born as a one shot to give one of my friends some first time experience in a hobby and universe that I love! From April 2022 to today, the game has been going strong just as a solo project between myself and PabloMuerte. This new player has now come a long way in this time in terms of knowledge of the World of Darkness lore, the system mechanics and showing some good chops when it comes to role playing just beyond rolling the dice. The Now We are interested in opening our little private game to perhaps 3 or 4 other would be interested players in order to form a proper PC populated coterie (the group around the current PC Paavo Salman of clan Tremere is composed of NPCs). Feel free to peruse the main plot threads in the game so far or see below for a brief sample of our style to see if this is something that matches your own preferences. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS Friday (11pm Eastern time) 2023-03-17. The Premise The Year is 1242... The game will soon be starting the third chapter which will have our only current PC returning to his home city of Valladolid within the kingdom of Castile and León (Iberia; known as Spain today). The place houses a recently constructed university to which the local Tremere (under Lasombra patronage as this area is heavily dominated by this clan) call their own for the time being. Our main protagonist will be reporting back to his own Tremere sire and there may be opportunities for other Cainites to become involved in this next plot. I am being purposely vague on what might come next, but rest assured that there might be an opportunity for a certain capable coterie that proves worthy to perhaps become masters in their own house. This game will be a coming of age story whereby neonates seek to make their own way in this world and become their own masters. Your PC's reasons for being in that part of the world can be tenuous at best (perhaps they're just passing through for other personal reasons) as it will be my job as the ST to figure out a way to logically shoe horn you into the shared story. As with most things in the World of Darkness, characters can get easily drawn into multiple plots without even knowing it at times. Expectations POSTING RATE We are looking for people who can post on a daily basis or at least every 2-3 days at the most. Our solo game has been progressing at a rapid pace and we would like to keep the quick flow of the game if at all possible. STYLE This is not a dungeon crawling, action movie combat fest; fights can be life and death affairs with real consequences to your PCs and their companions. There is a gritty reality to the ramifications of the violence in this game and it is often not the best solution to many issues that may arise. You are always free to choose the most direct route of course, but be prepared to face what the dice Gods give you in return. We prefer a more plodding, slow burn suspense game that befits this universe with a strong emphasis on social interactions and character development. The game will also have a healthy dose of politics with important decision making as PCs may have a stake in their own domain should they be successful. Rule System & Starting Character submissions This game will be running on Vampire Dark Ages 20th Anniversary edition rules. PCs will be created by the book with the standard rules for character creation. No character sheet needed for the initial application. If you are selected for the game, you can then work on the needed sheet. I am first interested in getting to know the character you want to inject into this thing. Paint me a picture (or use actual pictures) of the character you want to play in this game. Items that you should consider addressing: Name: either their real name or an alias (or several aliases). Clan - Bloodline: Quotes: Optional. Demeanor: Your surface nature that the world can plainly see or you strive to have them buy it. Sire identity & concept: Physical Appearance: Personality: History (both past life as a mortal and present life as a Cainite): Please provide a writing sample (this can only be a short paragraph if you wish and should involve your character in the midst of doing something remotely interesting). There are no restrictions on character concepts, bloodlines or clans per se, but know that should you pick something particularly outlandish you better back it up with a big heaping serving of logic and a quality application. I prefer secrecy in the World of Darkness, so please use hidden text when it comes to things touching upon your clan, bloodline, True Nature, deepest desires, history and other details that other PCs should not be able to immediately discern from your character. I think the game works best when PCs - players learn about their companions throughout the story. Provide your PC's agenda; what are they truly after? What are their ambitions? They can be as grandiose or as small potatoes (just surviving or finding a more powerful Cainite to serve works as well) as befits your character's nature and personality. Again, this should be in secret text! I like to base my plots and games around what PCs might want to do as opposed to just putting PCs on a rollercoaster of my own design with no concern for their own goals. It is entirely feasible that these new Cainites might see openings for their own plans in whatever adventure this Tremere sire might have in store for their neonate. Sample Post - First Post of the game: Outskirts of Tarragona, Kingdom of Aragon With but a quick glance upwards towards the sky, you notice that this night is particularly clear and all the stars are out on bright display. As is typical of this region of Spain, the springtime temperature is dry and balmy with the sluggish humidity that you've come to know in this part of Europe having been mostly discarded since the early months of this new year. The remnants of a constant warm breeze that is chopped by the trees of the forest yet finds your undead flesh and is not uncomfortable. If you were still alive, the wind would no doubt be soothing no matter the foreboding business at hand. You have no doubt that the living beings around you find the eve's climate pleasing and you certainly need them at their best for what is surely to come. Your thoughts are momentarily ruffled by the strong snort of a horse to your right. Galindo Palafox, captain of the mercenaries that clan Lasombra has bestowed upon this expedition as their share of the investment, arranges his mess of face into something that you think passes as a smile. The ugly man scratches the mane of his chestnut brown Andalusian, to calm the beast. "Apology to you, Master Salman," he offers, in his gruff, raspy voice. You have since come to know that his middle English is broken at best and heavily accented. "My horse is just not use' to being in trees. It think of wolves, maybe?." He guffaws in an exaggerated pitch and tone that is not even worthy of his attempt at this poor joke. His scarred, broken face then suddenly becomes still as a more serious thought crosses his mind. 'No, no, no! No wolves like that here!,' Galindo explains matter of factly. "Wolves like that not here in years. I guarantee!." With that, the short, pudgy man sits up straighter in his saddle as if to further emphasize the point. Any dignified ghoul would not want to disturb Cainites, even those vampires who are not directly their master. While you do take some solace in the ghoul's pronouncement that werewolves are not in the general vincity, you cannot help but take this moment to review the situation before you. At the behest of your sire, you now find yourself heading a joint clan Tremere, Lasombra and Toreador enterprise. Lilah Gray described a most peculiar cave off the coast of Sardinia, within the limits of Turris (port city known simply as 'Tower'). It is said that there is an ore within this cave that is unlike anything ever seen by kine and Cainites alike. Whether this is magical or natural remains to be seen, but clan Tremere are most interested in having samples with which to study. Clan Lasombra, being the direct benefactors of the local clan Tremere and your sire, would also like to reap the possible benefits that this strange ore may have to offer. While your sire communicated to you honest reservations about involving other clans in this endeavor, keeping secrets from the Lasombra in particular may make the present living situation here in Iberia for the Tremere ever so tenuous. Lilah Gray explained the strategy of having to toss a bone to the Lasombra every now and then to keep them satiated and, as such, the Tremere living situation in this part of Europe sustained. Oddly enough, the Toreador were the source of the rumours for this cave and were now along for the ride due to this fact alone. Speaking of the Toreador, you were now awaiting their own representative to see to their own interests on this mission. So far, this one was being fashionably late, which was not alike many from this clan. To aid you in securing ore from the cave, you now find yourself in the presence of Galindo Palafox and the five other finest mercenaries scrounged up from the streets of Barcelona. Whether these men have seen actual warfare is questionable; it would not be hard to believe that they were an assortment of ruffians who needed a momentary change of scenery in-between crimes and being chased off by local authorities. Their aresenal of axes and spears have been away from the forge in quite some time. Enclosed within the lightest of worn leather armor, the potent smell of sweat always accompanies them wherever they should go--the odour being even more pungent than most of the dirty masses of humanity. Evidently, clan Lasombra only wished to give a cursory token of support to this trip. They may feel that this is only a fool's errand at best as better people of violence could be employed by this region's most powerful clan. Judging from their sparsely grown beards, none of the young men appear to be over the age of twenty seasons and are without the benefit of a horse for travel. The motley crew have been charged with a medium sized donkey that will be the pack animal for this group. You need to rely almost exclusively on Galindo for communication with them as they speak only Castillian Spanish (vulgar Latin). Although, with your fluency in Latin, you can piece together some understanding with them when needed at certain points. It is clear that they know nothing about your true nature, and this secret remains with Galindo alone. Blood bond (magically enslaved to a vampire by consuming their blood; humans, animals and even other younger vampires can find themselves having strong emotions for another vampire in these cases.. this makes betraying them or even doing anything remotely harmful to them almost impossible for many) to a Lasombra master, it has been told to you through your sire that this vampire would like to have their prized ghoul back to them at the end of this assignment. Again, looking over Galindo, he has the look of a man who has been in more than a few blade fights. He at least inspires more confidence than the rag tag teenagers that follow him. With the power of Cainite blood in his system, his speed and strength are no doubt augmented. Clan Lasombra also put in your care a small chest containing fifty silver ingots and five hundred silver coins; to be used for bribes and possibly securing a deed to the cave. Like all things, diplomacy would be appreciated instead of crude takeover if at all possible. The donkey in your midst also hoists up enough foodstuffs (dried meats, bread, nuts, cheese and smoked sardines) and water to last three months for your human companions. You now find yourselves contemplating the best route either into or around the city of Tarragona. While purchasing the services of a ship to Sardinia may be the most obvious course of action, walking into any urban center puts you in danger of being discovered by the local vampire community. With that, comes having to declare yourself to the local Prince and many questions as to your intentions in the city. It is the wish of both your sire and the Lasombra that this effort be kept secret. The other option would be outright commandeering a sizable ship on the edge of the city. Still, you might be able to even barter with a fisherman and keep things off the record. As you await your Toreador counterpart, your eyes wander back to the Roman ruins that still decorate Tarragona such as the walls and Pretorium (tower) that rises to the heavens from the city. Prince Raimundo 'The Blood Knight' De La Vega of Tarragona (Clan Lasombra), is not known to entertain those who do not pay their respects to him when setting foot in his domain. While you may be on a mission for others of Clan Lasombra, this mission is not known to him and he cares nothing for the efforts of other Lasombra not of his court. Being of the same clan does not necessarily mean cooperation and love in all things-- if anything, it is common practice for there to be intrigue and plots within clans. You may need to keep him in the dark as to all of this just in case there happens to be bad blood between the hot tempered Prince and the Lasombra in the Kingdom of Castille sponsoring this venture.

[Ladytron]

Maybe interested

[JaDeX105]

How fortuitous that you would post this today; this morning I woke up thinking about V:tM and started browsing through the WoD folder here and saw that your one shot was one of two active games. I didn't read far into the story, but was aware your game existed.

Now, I do not have confidence that I would be able to maintain daily or near-daily posting, so I won't bog your game down; but if you don't mind a little bit of sidetracking, I have a question about the v20 Dark Ages system. My only introduction to WoD was when I played 2 sessions of V:tM Revised edition a little over 3 years ago. I see from quick searches that the 20th anniversary was a polished-up improvement of the previous versions, and that v20 Dark Ages is (in overly simplified terms) V:tM v20 set in medieval times. So how would my (half-forgotten) knowledge of V:tM Revised compare to what's needed for a v20 Dark Ages game?

[Apocrypha]

Very, very interested - I love VtM and have absolutely dreamed of getting to play a Dark Ages game as a player, and a once-a-day posting rate sounds ideal. I will get an application together in the very near future.

[Aethera]

I'm so happy to see this game going strong and people responding to VtM that I've never played with before! I hope to play World of Darkness games with you all in future.

I'm not a fit for a daily-posting game, but I'll sit over here sighing after V20 Dark Ages anyway.

[Elanir]

Oh my! I really, really shouldn’t, but I just… can’t resist.

A game set in the Dark Ages that’s been going on for a year, is focused on roleplaying and has vampires? What more can one want?

Seriously though, I have never before played in a WoD game, but I adore this setting and have purchased the main book and the “tome of secrets” just because of the flavor. The posting rate is very steep, but if we could agree on two to three posts a week (and I manage to somewhat cut down my lengthy posts) I think I could manage it.

I would need a lot of help with the rules, but I hope that won’t be a problem, right?

Anyway, I am thinking about a Cappadocian orthodox monk…

[Icereach]

This looks awesome! Shame I can't commit to a daily posting rate. I hope this gets more traction!

[Starship Tical]

@Ladytron: Let us know which way the wind blows in the future!

@JaDeX105: Thank you for the voiced interest!

The daily posting rate is not mandatory per se; just as long as you throw something out there every two days (or three days at a maximum) we can probably get along together. It happens once in a while that I myself or PabloMuerte might miss a day or so as well (especially during the work week), so not posting every day should not be a hanging offense.

I have absolutely no issues taking on someone with no or very little experience with the universe or system (this was the entire point of the exercise when we started this thing last year after all). If you can play D20, you can play the White Wolf dot system as 90% of the game comes down to choosing an attribute and ability to roll against a stated difficulty rating. I will be there to offer guidance as well both in terms of the game mechanics and/or things about vampire society your PC should know about even if you as a new player to this world might not...

I care a lot more about good players with interesting characters rather than veteran rules masters.

@Apocrypha: Thank you for the interest!

WOD is a rare thing on the site, but a Dark Ages game is even more exotic! Well, here is your chance and I am looking forward to what you might be cooking up.

Also, do not get too hung up on the daily posting rate-- we can and will accommodate posters who can only participate every second or third day as well. Ideally, I think that a faster pace keeps players (and STs) interested in the game, but we can bend the rules a bit for people with sweet characters.

@Aethera: Thanks for the post!

I am not absolutely beholden to the daily posting rate and will consider taking on players who can post every few days if their characters look like they would be great additions to the game.

It is up to you!

@Elanir: Thank you for the interest! Just give in to the beast and satiate your thirst for a vampire game!

As stated above with JaDeX105, I have no issues on taking on newbies and can certainly take you along for the ride with a careful hand. The White Wolf dot system is very easy to pick up and has D20 looking like an advanced math class in comparison. The bulk of the mechanics comes down to picking an attribute and an ability to roll against a stated difficulty number... I am not worried about you getting the knack for it in no time.

With regards to the daily posting rate, we can move on that point and it will not be a deal breaker at the end of the day. If you come across as a solid player with a cool PC idea, we can make something work.

Cappadocian orthodox monk... I like the sound of that already!

@Icereach: Hello and thank you as well for the interest!

We can take on players who can only post every second or third day as well! I do not want to narrow our candidates based on something so trivial.

[Apocrypha]

I wanted to send this in a PM, but it looks like your inbox is full, so let me just pop it in private tags:




Thanks very much! I'm excited to apply!

[Sageheart]

This looks awesome. I haven't been on here in a while, but I may have time now, would twice a week be possible for posting? Or is that too little? Either way I will follow.

[Starship Tical]

@Apocrypha: I might have to clean out my inbox as I lost my Community Supporter status recently that I will renew at some point; I am accustomed to having all the messages I want. I can be a hoarder!

Here are my responses:

[Starship Tical]

@Sageheart: Hello and thank you for your interest!

I would really like to stick to about 3-4 posts a week if at all possible. If you think this would be feasible on your part, then by all means, we would like to see your application.

[Ladytron]

Originally Posted by Starship Tical

@Ladytron: Let us know which way the wind blows in the future!

Can you see secret messages? I sent you one in my forum post, not sure if you got it.

[Hotshot lasgun]

can i rejoin my role as the brujah muscle? i had some time to consider, and id like to worm my way back in

[Apocrypha]

Concept-wise, the one that jumps out at me right away would be a Lasombra neonate, being sent by her sire to assist Paavo with his next errand. Now that the Lasombra elders of Valladolid have started to take a greater interest in cultivating an alliance with the Tremere, they're willing to invest more than just silver and mortal hirelings in the venture. A promising but ultimately expendable neonate would be the next logical step, especially if they're also viewing it as a Lasombra-style trial by fire for the neonate as well as an effort to aid Paavo. She, of course, has ambitions of her own and is eager to carve out a power base for herself by building alliances outside the clan.

My only concern about that would be, well... female, probably noble-born Lasombra neonate from the northern Iberian peninsula in the Middle Ages, probably heavily invested in Obtenebration, and with an antagonistic relationship with her sire... sounds awfully familiar. I wouldn't want to play something that's too close to the most prominent iconic character in the whole game, so I'd want to put some thought into how to make her a little more distinct in terms of personality and background. More scheming-wheeler-dealer-in-over-her-head, less lone-badass-ninja-Mary-Sue. Or it might be interesting to lean into the more mystical and spiritual aspects of the Lasombra, rather than the political, scheming, how-good-a-master-manipulator-can-you-be-if-everyone-knows-you're-a-master-manipulator Lasombra stereotype?